PKL | Haryana Steelers and Tamil Thalaivas play out entertaining draw in Ahmedabad

Surender Nada was the star of the show for the Haryana Steelers but failed to secure a win for his side as the game ended in a 25-all draw in Ahmedabad. Prapanjan scored 7 points for the Thalaivas while Nada earned his side 6 tackle points, which included two Super Tackles in the entertaining game.

Tamil Thalaivas won the toss and chose the court which meant that Haryana Steelers would have go in for the first raid. Surjeet Singh successfully opened the account for Haryana before K Prapanjan leveled things up with a successful raid. However, with the help of successive bonus points, Haryana took a 3-1 lead. Prapanjan and Ajay Thakur’s successful raids attempt not only reduced the deficit but put their team two men up as well. Reduced to just three men, Haryana Steelers were not ready to give up easily as Surender Nada produced a Super Tackle on Thakur to earn two points for his team. It became even better for Haryana as star raider Prapanjan was off the mat in the very next mat as the Steelers made a quick comeback into the game. Haryana failed to score in their do or die raid but the Thalaivas couldn’t fare any better as Nada pulled off yet another ankle hold. The game was neck to neck as both the team didn’t want to give a single point easily.

With the score at 8-7 score Tamil Thalaivas introduced the do or die expert Dong Geon Lee, as he substituted Ajay Thakur, but failed to earn any point as Haryana’s defence sent him to the bench without wasting any time. Surprisingly, the Steelers sent Wazir Singh in for the do or die raid but the talented raider stepped out of bounds. Prapanjan failed to score in his do or die raid as Mohit Chillar’s ankle hold resulted in Haryana taking a two point lead as the scorecard read 10-8. Tamil Thalaivas had their revenge as they sent out Pramod Narwal in the same manner. Lee, finally levelled the score to 10-10 as he successfully got point with a toe touch during his raid. But, Nada, who already had 5 tackle points, collect two points from yet another Super Tackle which ensured his team went into the half with a 13-10 lead.

Tamil Thalaivas manage to hold out for a draw

Tamil Thalaivas started the second half with an empty raid. Like the Haryana was the first team to get points in the second half as Pradap could come up with only an unsuccessful raid. Two attempts later, Vikas Kandola handed the point back to the Thalaivas to reduce the deficit to three points. Prapanjan brought the Thalaivas rolling back into the game by taking two points of a single raid. Surjeet Singh’s unsuccessful raid compounded by Vineet Kumar’s successful one resulted in first all-out of the game with the Thalaivas taking a 17-14 lead. Vikas Kandola’s one raid point and Prashant Kumar’s bonus point reduced the margin to one point. Haryana Steelers tried to dash Prapanjan but he successfully earned two points after the review and the score reached at 16-19. With just 10 minutes left in the game, the Thalaivas took a comfortable four point lead.

Haryana Steelers tried to come back as they added three points to their total while Thalaivas’ unsuccessful do-or die raid leveled the score at 20 points apiece. Soon, Pradap sent Nada out of the mat. The Thalaivas took a timeout with the scoreboard reading 21-22 in their favour just before the Steelers could begin an important do or die raid. The pressure, however, was too much for the Thalivas as Vikas Kandola was able to come away with a point to level the score at 22-22. Prapanjan, too, failed to earn a point in the do-or-die raid as Haryana’s defence sent him to the bench. The Thalaivas managed two points as Amit Hooda push Kandola out of the mat at their Super Tackle while Ashish Chhokar showed his skill in the crucial point of the match and earn two points for Haryana. With two empty raids, the match eventually ended 25-25 draw with the Thalivas coming out as the happier of the two sides with a win.